The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-01-26

sight and her lace 1lusneu anu SIG
looked away along the beautiful street.
But before he could speak she turned
again "Will you not 60 home with
me?" she asked. John Earring thanked
her hcsitatingly, but added, in his open
way: "To be truthful. Celeste-Miss
Bright my errand in the city was to-
see you. / suppose in that case it
would be ridiculous for me to decline
your kindness. But would it not be
pleasanter for you at some other hour? -
She gave her neither lip little pearly
bite, as if the tidings that he came only
to see her had given her thrill; then
she looked as if she had wished she
had waited little with her invitation.
But though she looked down her eyes
told that she had needed the first part
of what he had said, but she only an
swered the last sentence with her lips
"No, truly" her eyelids fiuttermg
up again, friends, who are strangers
in the city, are welcome at any mo-
ment to our house. It's not long until
dinner, and I'm sure you are hun
cry"
'Thank you,n he said, laughingly,
that's carnal failing generally sup
posed to rule in Westerners, l believe!
At least that's the question usually first
asked us!' and he turned and walked
along by her side, SOLDERING as helooked
down upon her silken head.
In moment the lovely face lifted it
self with an anxious smile. elf West
crn people have larger appetites than
the rest of the world, which don't be-
lieve, it is because they work harder, |
guess. Do you. as Mrs. Bower has
often mentioned in her letters, and she
said it was All American trait, and for
that l suppose is to be excused, still
give yourself not even time to know
who lives in the town with You, or
even the Sabbath Day to rest yourself
in?"
"Oh, / haven't worked at all for
several months" he said, looking
straight before him with a regretful
expression. &C 1t has been a great
waste of time; yet, in another sense,
it has been gain. l presume | am
like many others who seem to feel that
time has a kind of unearthly value,
though they really don't know why.
suppose it is inherited, or may be it
is the attractive principle in the gen.
eral rush that we feel always drawing
and sucking us forward. Any way, [
guess most live Americans, when they
take time to enjoy themselves, gen
orally feel sore over their generosity
when it is past. If we could only live
two lives at once, I fancy the world
would be quite paradise!" and he
finished with deprecating laugh.
" If you had them you would work
them both to death, l believed she
said, looking up at him with a Gliding
| smile.
$50 would the rest" he laughed.
Duality would only increase the heat.
One after another has quickened his
Pace. hoping to outreach his fellows, [
suppose, until the whole race seems
on the double quick; it would be fatal
to try to WALK
She gave a troubled laugh. Yes,
the walker would only be run over and
crushed It's too sad. see it every
day when l 90 down in the city; dol
lars are more than hearts, more than
lives even; it looks everywhere out of
their faces; it's strange, sad insani-
ty.n
He was looking down at the walk
now; he had noticed this inclination of
her perceptives before, and it touched
him pleasantly; he felt the pity in her
voice.
| eyes" he said, cit is high-class
commercial civilizations; its demands
are frightful in some directions All
seemingly centers upon the dollar;
days, nights, Sabbaths. dreams; surely
the beautiful moderation of the old
years is lost. 1t wakes very hot; now
it is even by the sweat of your brain
shall ye scarcely escape starvation!"
and he fetched a sort of eager bitter
laugh, as if contemptuous OF the OBJ
! ject. yet restless for the work.
eyes, and from it all, and in spite
of it all, many do starve in more senses
than one" she said, gravelv, looking
away. Then in breath: Mrs. Bower
mentioned that you had gone away
from Openstone last winter; have you
been away ever since?"
"Yes, have been wandering about
trying to rest myself little. "
| She looked at him gratefully. "This
is the place; please walk in, she said.
And he bowed and thanked her
again, and they went up the short,
smooth entrance-way across a little
lawn to the house. Itwas commod:-
Gus, pleasant structure of stone with
bays and verandas, up which the ivy,
that ran in a green riot over the walls
in midsummer, was now stretching its
emerald ladders. 1t stood part wayup
one of the bluffs, once beautiful with
forests and now beautiful with homes,
and looked down over portion of the
low-lying city with the shimmering
Ohio beyond. The late afternoon sun
shine was tiltering through the trees
and yellowing every where along the
fresh June sward, and when John
Earring sat down in the front parlor
and with glance saw music
room, library, dining-room, and
conservatory, opening about him
with silken portieres, and with all their
lovely furnishings lit up as in halo
by the sunbeams that fell through the
vine-wound window, and looked at
Celeste, the incarnate heart of all its
beauty, standing before him, slender,
palpitant, with rose-leaf cheeks and
delicate head held back, tuGginga at her
gloves and talking rapidly, he felt it
home-like and exquisite, indeed.
Now, you must be very much at
home," she was saying. with her little
blue bonnet hanging by its chin-rib-
bons from her hand like an abnormal
violet, "and will bring aunt to YOU.